Charles I. to his son James. 1 1 James, I am in hope that you may be permitted, with your brother and sister, to come to some place betwixt this and London, where I may see you. To this end, therefore, I command you to ask leave of the two Houses to make a journey (if it may be) for a night or two. But rather than not see you, I will be content that ye come to some convenient place to dine, and go back at night. And foreseeing the fear of your being brought within the power of the army as I am, may be objected, to hinder this my desire. I have full assurance from Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the chief officers, that there will be no interruption or impediment made by them for your return how and when you please. So God bless you. Your loving father, Casam, July 4, 1647. CHARLES R. Send me word as soon as you can of the time and place where I shall have the contentment of seeing you, your brother and sister. 1 Sanderson, p. 995. According to Sanderson, the king's wishes were complied with. He dined with the two princes at Maidstone, whence they adjourned with the king to Casam for two days. Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick. 1 Lanerick, 1 It is impossible for me at present to give a categorical answer to your (I confess) necessary question. All I can say is, that I am now at much more freedom than when I was at Holmby, for my friends have free access unto me, according to their vocation, and I have free intelligence with my wife and any body else whom I please; all which was flatly denied me before. Besides, their professions are much more frank and satisfactory to what I desire of this army than ever was offered me by the Presbyterians. And truly if these people rightly understand their own condition and interests, they must do what they profess, which is, that king, parliament, and people may each have respectively what is their own ; and yet it must be their actions, not words alone, which shall make me put confidence in them. Hitherto they have made me no particular offers, though daily pressed by me; but as soon as I can clearly see through their intentions one way or other, I shall not fail to advertise you with my commands thereupon.2 In the mean time, having truly though shortly set you down 1 MS. Harl. 841, f. 238. 2 This army speaks me very fair, which makes me hope well; but it must be their actions, not bare words, which will make me trust them. I have declared for my going to Richmond, from which nothing shall, by the grace of God, divert me (if the two Houses do not recede from their votes) but direct force, which, I hope, the army will not offer to do; for, if they mean well, this my journey will be available to them; and whatsoever they intend, forcing of my person will do them more harm than good."-Letter of Charles I., Addit. MSS. 5015. the true estate of my present condition, I leave you to judge and do what you shall find best for my service. So I rest Your most assured, real, constant friend, Casam, 12th July, 1647. CHARLES R. Postscript. I have entrusted this trusty bearer with several particulars, which I thought too long for a letter. Lanerick, Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick. 1 This is, first, to recommend this honest bearer to your care, to further him in passing of those small favours which I have bestowed upon him; next, that you would do your best for the relief of those Gordons who were lately taken: both which as to you were needless, but that I know it fit for me, at all occasions, to express the care I have of those that wish me well. So farewell. Your most assured, real, constant friend, Casam, 13th July, 1647. Postscript.-Send me word if you have yet remembered your promise to me concerning the late Archbishop of Saint Andrew's book. 1 MS. Harl. 841. Lanerick, Charles I. to the Earl of Lanerick.1 You had reason not to come up without the chancellor; but I do not understand why you did both stay; for is this a time for Scotland to vie punctilios of honour with England, and thereby neglect even almost to lose the opportunity of redeeming that fault which they committed at Newcastle? Certainly you are not yet in the right way; but seriously I write not this for you, but to you, that others by you may learn more wit-in a word, time is not altogether lost-redeem it for shame, and be not startled at my answer which I gave yesterday to the two Houses; for, if you truly understand it, I have put you in a right way, where before you were wrong. Remember the proverb—Ill bairns are best heard at home. I say no more; but make what haste you can with your colleague to Your most assured, real, constant friend, Hampton Court, 10th September, 1647. Charles I. to his Daughter.2 Dear daughter, CHARLES R. Hampton Court, 27th October, 1647. This is to assure you that it is not through forgetfulness nor any want of kindness, that I have not, 1 MS. Harl. 841, f. 243. Lanerick and Lowdon were permitted by the Parliament to wait on the king; but leave was not granted without much discussion and opposition. 2 Sloane MSS. No. 3299. These letters are addressed to the Princess Elizabeth, who died of a fever at Carisbrook, September, 1650. Her all this time, sent for you; but for such reasons as is fitter for you to imagine (which you may easily do) than me to write. But now I hope to see you upon Friday or Saturday next, as your brother James can more particularly tell you, to whom referring you, I rest Your loving father, CHARLES R. Charles I. to Colonel Whalley.1 Hampton Court, 11th November, 1647. Colonel Whalley, I have been so civilly used by you and Major Huntington, that I cannot but by this parting farewell acknowledge it under my hand; as also to death is thus mentioned in a MS. in the Bodleian Library, containing notes for a history of the Isle of Wight, "it was here also in 1650 that another of this most unhappy family, Elizabeth, daughter of King Charles, terminated her grief and sufferings. I have not met with a notice of her burial in the registers, but it is very possible I have overlooked it." It is, however, entered in the registers there. 1 Jessie's Hampton Court. This letter was written on the very day of the flight of the unfortunate monarch from Hampton Court, of which Whalley was the governor. It is very interesting, as exhibiting his fondness for pictures, and the facility with which he would stoop to the arrangements of trifles, amidst the dangers and embarrassments which surrounded him at the moment it was written. The following particulars relative to his escape are extracted from the Moderate Intelligencer of Thursday, November 11th, 1647. "Nov. 11. This day will be famous in aftertimes, because towards the end of his majesty's escape, a kind of restraint under which he was at Hampton Court, and according to the best relation, thus: he, as was usual, went to be private a little before evening prayer; staying somewhat longer than usual, it was taken notice of, yet at first without suspicion; but he not coming forth, suddenly there were fears, which increased by the crying of a greyhound again and again within, and upon search it was found the king was gone, and by the way of paradise, a place so called in the garden, in probability suddenly after his going in and about twilight." |